The Slovak Competition Authority (Rada PMÚ) confirmed on August 26, 2026, the findings of its earlier decision from April 23, 2026, regarding the existence of a cartel in public procurement. The authority upheld fines totaling €359,100 imposed on five businesses, while also modifying parts of the decision to better reflect the established facts.

The investigation by the PMÚ focused on the actions of companies MicroStep, spol. s r.o., RAPČAN SERVIS DETVA s.r.o., Fronius Slovensko s.r.o., Azvaro s.r.o., and REA-S s.r.o., which was the procurer of the goods and services in question. REA-S actively contributed to the coordination among the other companies, thus becoming a participant in the cartel agreement.

The anticompetitive behavior involved mutual contacts and the exchange of commercially sensitive information related to public procurement. The PMÚ gathered evidence, including communications between the parties, which indicated coordinated actions in preparing bids for public procurement. Significant similarities in their submitted bids, including pricing indices, were identified, which could only be explained by coordinated conduct and the existence of a cartel agreement. The aim was to ensure that the lowest bid was submitted by RAPČAN SERVIS DETVA s.r.o.

The cartel agreement was linked to a public procurement titled “Intelligent Innovation at REA-S,” which involved a robotic welding and grinding workstation along with related technology and services. However, the original contract was canceled and replaced with a new contract of the same name and subject.

The PMÚ classified the businesses' actions as a 'hard cartel' since the agreement aimed at predetermined winners of the procurement, price fixing, and market division. The companies eliminated uncertainty regarding their future behavior and suppressed competition in pricing.

Consequently, the PMÚ confirmed the fines totaling €359,100 and imposed bans on participation in public procurement. MicroStep, spol. s r.o., RAPČAN SERVIS DETVA s.r.o., and REA-S s.r.o. received a three-year ban, while Azvaro s.r.o. was banned for one year. The decision became final and enforceable on September 4, 2026, and can be challenged in court.